Margaret King School Memorial Project Why was the Margaret King School outstanding? The Margaret King School, at Pugwash Junction, Nova Scotia, was built in 1929 by Cyrus Eaton. He began his early education in the late 1800's in a one room school in this community and went on to financial success as an industrialist in the United States. His passion for excellent education was demonstrated when he chose to give back to his childhood community by building the model school of the time. This was the first consolidated rural school in Nova Scotia. This school had the highest quality of choice from architect, materials, and construction. It included two classrooms, library, science lab, Home Economics room, Industrial Arts room, and gym. His endowment, also, benefitted adjacent communities whose students came by train and bus to the high school department. Mr. Eaton provided scholarships which allowed the possibility of many students to go on to higher education. Further consolidation forced its closing in 1960. Name of School Mr. Eaton named the school after his favorite teacher, Margaret King. Quote from a telegram sent by Cyrus to her family at the time of her death, 1944: " Margaret King will long be remembered for nobility of character and her cultivation of mind. She was the very model of those wonderfully able, conscientious and self forgetting women...who made Nova Scotia distinguished for intellectual promise " My Personal Interest My father and Mr. Eaton attended school together in a one room school, typical of the times. I recall anecdotal stories passed on to me by my Dad regarding Margaret King and the"good old school days". Sixty years later, I attended the Margaret King School and later became an educator in Nova Scotia and United States. In 1993, some former teachers and students gathered for a reunion for this school that functioned from 1930 to 1960. We are the same group, now, seeking to create an appropriate community memorial. May future generations appreciate the legacy that is being passed down to them. Jean Thomas 860 429-2207 christyroderick@yahoo.com April 24,2009 ​